CAMAS — If the Camas boys basketball team takes the weekend off, no one should fault them for it.
The Papermakers capped off a busy week of four games in as many days with their most convincing performance of the slate, an 83-38 win over Class 3A Kelso on Friday night.
All told, Camas posted wins over 3A Evergreen, 2A R.A. Long — ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press statewide poll — and 4A Greater St. Helens League foe Skyview before taking on the Hilanders.
Yet the Papermakers showed no signs of fatigue in establishing their style on Friday, a combination of relentless pressure defense and up-tempo offense that led to lots of open looks.
“They play with energy that’s just off the charts. It blows my mind how they can sustain that over four games in a week,” Camas head coach Ryan Josephson said.
Led by Carson Frawley’s 19 points, with Beckett Currie (18 points) and Stephen Behil (14 points) also reaching double figures, Camas built a 47-23 lead by halftime and held a 40-point edge after three quarters, which put a running clock in effect for the final eight minutes.
“It’s a great feeling,” Behil said. “We came in not knowing if we’d play R.A. Long or Skyview. It’s definitely great to win four in a row after losing to Union. It’s a great comeback.”
Michael Foust had 11 points and Payton Stewart chipped in 10 points for the Hilanders (8-4), who played three games during the week as well, all against 4A GSHL teams: Union, Battle Ground and Camas.
Camas (12-2), ranked No. 6 in the 4A AP poll, lost a 72-60 decision to No. 2-ranked Union one week ago before reeling off four straight. Its only other loss came during the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic to Mission Hills of San Marcos, Calif.
Josephson said Mission Hills outworked Camas in that tournament championship game. It was hard pill to swallow for the Papermakers, but also led them to reflect on their style of play.
Since then, they’ve found a higher level as they strive to be, in their head coach’s words, the hardest-working team in the state.
“It’s a lot of fun to coach,” Josephson said. “They’re super coachable and their intensity … it’s a good thing to work with when you got guys that are willing to dive on the floor and do the dirty work that it takes to win.”
Now, the hard work will also be rewarded with some much-needed rest.
Josephson confirmed the Papermakers will, in fact, take the weekend off to recuperate.
“I think it would be inhumane to not give them a day off,” Josephson said with a laugh. “They’ll have the weekend to rest up and then we’ll come back recharged for the next week of competition.”
CAMAS 83, KELSO 38
KELSO — Carter Lloyd 5, Naiser Lukas 2, Hayden Yore 1, Chase Dillehay 0, Michael Foust 11, Sean McFarland 2, Payton Stewart 10, Blake Eastham 0, Chase Johnson 5. Totals 14 (4) 6-7 38.
CAMAS — Luke Dizon 4, Beckett Currie 18, Matthew Chilian 3, Josh Dabasinskas 6, Jace VanVoorhis 5, Theo McMillan 4, Carson Frawley 19, Quentin Allen 8, Stephen Behil 14, Grady Milholen 0, Jamison Carlisle 2. Totals 28 (12) 15-21 83.
Kelso 15 8 10 5—38
Camas 26 21 26 10—83
